Aquatic Insect Surveys at Mount Magazine State Park and Hobbs State Park – Conservation Area with Implementation of an Educational Component

Aquatic insect surveys at Mount Magazine State Park and Hobbs State Park – Conservation Area with implementation of an educational component

Arkansas is home to a relatively large number of endemic invertebrates and monitoring their populations is important for conserving this unique biodiversity. Objectives of this study are to sample for three endemic aquatic insects (Isoperla szczytkoi, Paraleptophlebia calcarica, and Paucicalcarica ozarkensis) from Gutter Rock Creek at Mount Magazine State Park for determining their current status and to conduct preliminary aquatic invertebrate surveys at spring habitats within Hobbs State Park – Conservation Area. A primary objective at Hobbs State Park – Conservation Area is to place “sensitive aquatic habitat” and conservation signage at the spring on the heavily-traveled Pigeon Roost trail that highlights the invertebrate community including the recently collected endemic water beetle, H. sulphurius, and the important protection of these unique habitats for sustaining the parks biodiversity.

A pre-proposal submitted to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission – State Wildlife Grant Program (2008 – 2010)

Scott D. Longing, Ph.D. Postdoctoral Research Associate University of Arkansas Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering 203 Engineering Hall Fayetteville, AR 72701 [email protected] ph: (479) 575-2840 fax: (479) 575-2846

Brian E. Haggard, Ph.D. Associate Professor University of Arkansas Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering 203 Engineering Hall Fayetteville, AR 72701 [email protected] ph: (479) 575-2879 fax: (479) 575-2846

Total Project Cost: $51,200

State Wildlife Grant Request: $25,600

Matching Funds and In-Kind Services: $25,600 Project Overview Arkansas is home to over 200 endemic plants and animals. Effective conservation of these natural resources is important for sustaining essential, natural ecosystem processes while preserving Arkansas’ natural heritage for the enjoyment of future generations. It is important to know the current status and distribution of unique organisms within our state parks to work towards sustaining their current populations. With those biological conservation efforts, educational action that links the public to the overall conservation mission fosters the protection of our states unique natural environment while creating awareness for conservation programs and the essential protection of the unique natural biodiversity. Our Arkansas State Parks and Conservation Areas are valuable resources for implementing these educational actions that link citizens to the conservation of our states unique biodiversity. For this proposed study, we will sample for three endemic aquatic insects at historic locations within Mount Magazine State Park (Gutter Rock Creek) and survey spring habitats at Hobbs State Park – Conservation Area to develop preliminary species lists and to add additional element occurrence data to the Arkansas Wildlife Action Plan species and habitat database. A main objective at Hobbs State Park – Conservation Area is to place “sensitive aquatic habitat” and conservation signs at the spring on the heavily- traveled Pigeon Roost trail that highlights the invertebrate community including the recently collected endemic water beetle, H. sulphurius, and the important protection of these unique habitats for sustaining the parks biodiversity. This action will provide a prototype aquatic invertebrate community conservation sign within this state park (thus providing a template for other potential locations of significant findings at Hobbs and other state parks) and support an overall goal to enhance future educational opportunities related to wildlife and habitat conservation.

Funding priorities addressed 1. Integrate Arkansas Wildlife Action Plan priorities with other land-use or natural resource efforts at the local, state, or federal level. This study will provide aquatic invertebrate surveys of two major Arkansas State Parks that contain some of the most unique aquatic habitats and fauna in the Mid-Western U. S. At Mount Magazine State Park, we will gain important element occurrence information for three endemic aquatic insects and our work at Hobbs State Park will produce a preliminary species list for the unique spring habitats that will aid wildlife conservation initiatives and educational programs conducted by the park.

2. Address the needs of Species of Greatest Conservation Need while benefiting other fish and wildlife. The status of three endemic and aquatic SGCN, Isoperla szczytkoi, Paraleptophlebia calcarica, and Paucicalcarica ozarkensis will be determined from Gutter Rock Creek and adjacent aquatic habitats at Mount Magazine State Park. The surrounding aquatic habitats consists of a number of seasonal springs and complementary work of these habitats currently conducted at other areas in the Ozark and Boston Mountains will facilitate statewide and ecoregion evaluations of this habitat-specific fauna. The unique spring and seep habitats at Hobbs State Park could potentially produce a unique species list due to the fact that we have recently collected two rare water beetles (Sanfilippodytes sp. and Heterosternuta sulphurius) among a diverse aquatic invertebrate community from a spring seep within the park. Based on the presence of these rare and endemic specimens, additional sampling may lead to similar discoveries in these habitats throughout the Conservation Area. These surveys will highlight the overall conservation priorities of these parks while developing baseline information to aid future monitoring efforts.

3. Projects that publicize and raise the profile of the Arkansas Wildlife Action Plan with elected officials, decision and policy makers, interested parties (e.g., land trusts), and the general public. Information produced from these surveys should directly influence Park conservation priorities and decision-makers and foster AWAP awareness through providing habitat protection and effective management of sensitive aquatic habitats (e.g., “Sensitive Aquatic Habitat” signs, animal exclusion) when SGCN are found. The prototype informational signage at Hobbs State Park – Conservation Area will briefly detail the unique fuana (in text and in pictures) and conservation priorities that will be viewed by numerous hikers on

2 the heavily-traveled Pigeon Roost trail. In addition, the location of the spring is adjacent (≈ 100m) to the initial destination of water for the entire Conservation Area, Beaver Lake Reservoir. This setting provides a key location for the introduction of this educational sign that focuses on conservation and hikers can view directly the connection between this spring habitat and its unique biological characteristics and the larger and encompassing Beaver Lake watershed. Therefore, viewers of these signs may gain a better understanding of the complex nature of entire aquatic ecosystems.

Geographic area of study Surveys will be conducted in the Gutter Rock Creek stream system (Figure 1, Mount Magazine State Park, Logan County, Arkansas, Arkansas Valley Ecoregion) and at selected spring locations within the Hobbs State Park – Conservation Area (Figure 2, Benton Co. and a small portion of Madison Co., Arkansas, Ozark Ecoregion).

Methods At Mount Magazine State Park, we will sample for the occurrence of the three endemic aquatic insects on four occasions in Spring/Summer 2009 and 2010. Sampling is scheduled for this time because this creek is intermittent and therefore will probably dry up in the summer months around June. During each sampling event we will use a D-frame net for sampling and a UV light at dusk and 1 hour after sunset to collect adult specimens. We will collect a benthic sample using a D-frame net, empty the contents into a sorting pan, and preserve suspect specimens in alcohol. Only a few representative specimens will be collected from within each reach to avoid destructive sampling of these potential populations. All invertebrates that are not suspect as being one of the three endemic insects will be released back into the stream. We will primarily focus on the particular habitat types where these organisms may be found. Microhabitat characteristics where suspect specimens are collected will be recorded in the case of a positive identification, which will facilitate stratified sampling in discrete habitats with future sampling. Water quality samples will be collected on each sampling occasion at Both Mount Magazine State Park and Hobbs State Park Conservation – Area. We will select five springs from Hobbs State Park for qualitative sampling of the invertebrate populations. This information will be used to develop a preliminary species list while focusing on the endemic fauna and particularly the recently collected endemic water beetle, H. sulphurius, from the Pigeon Roost Trail spring. At that spring, we will place signage near the trail that details the importance of these habitats, the need for conservation as it relates to this local habitat and the entire Beaver Lake ecosystem, and pictures and descriptions of the special fauna found at this location. We will work with personnel from Hobbs State Park – Conservation Area in development and placement of these signs to achieve the greatest educational benefit to citizens that enjoy this trail system. In addition, this work will facilitate educational opportunities conducted at the future Visitors Center located in the park. Although no preliminary surveys have been conducted in the Gutter Rock Creek system at Mount Magazine State Park, our goal is to highlight this spring at the Pigeon Roost trail at Hobbs State Park - Conservation Area and then develop similar materials for other aquatic habitats upon other significant findings.

Measurable products and outcomes The most immediate product from proposed funding will be the placement of signs along the spring adjacent to the Pigeon Roost trail at Hobbs State Park – Conservation Area to make hikers aware of this important habitat that must be conserved for the enjoyment of many generations. It is critical that these habitats are protected to sustain the current population of H. sulphurius at this location. Also at this park, a preliminary species list of spring inhabiting invertebrates will be developed and this information will be used for classroom education at the future Visitors Center and field opportunities. At Mount Magazine state park, the measurable product will be the status determination of three endemic aquatic insects, which will provide baseline information to monitor potential populations in the future. Similar to the conservation actions initiated at Hobbs State Park – Conservation Area (i.e., placement of protective and descriptive signs), findings from Mount Magazine State Park may support educational opportunities that link citizens directly with natural resource protection.

3 Partnerships and existing resources A cooperative partnership related to the study and conservation of the unique aquatic insect fauna will be developed between the University of Arkansas, Hobbs State Park – Conservation Area, and Mount Magazine State Park.

Long-term project maintenance Species element occurrence data gained from these surveys will support the Arkansas Wildlife Action plan through filling data gaps with additional element occurrence and aquatic habitat data, and thus provide a foundation for subsequent monitoring of endemic populations and potential rare species at these State Parks and across Arkansas.

Budget Table 1. Proposed Budget SWG YEAR 1 SWG YEAR 2 TOTAL SWG Salary/Benefits 10,080.00 10,080.00 20,160.00 Operating Expenses domestic travel 500.00 500.00 1,000.00 sampling equipment (vials and alcohol) 100.00 100.00 200.00 design and development of trail conservation signage 250.00 250.00 500.00 Capital Expenses water quality sample analysis 200.00 200.00 400.00 Total Direct Costs 11,130.00 11,130.00 22,260.00 Total Indirect Costs (15%)* 1,670.00 1,670.00 3,340.00 Total amount requested 12,800.00 12,800.00 25,600.00 *current percentage agreement between UA and AGFC

Figure 1. Mount Magazine State Park. Arrow Figure 2. Hobbs State Park – Conservation points to Gutter Rock Creek system. Area. Arrow shows approximate location of a spring seep on the heavily-traveled Pigeon Roost hiking trail where Heterosternuta sulphurius was recently collected.

4 Qualifications

Scott Longing is an aquatic entomologist and post-doctoral research associate at the University of Arkansas. Past research involved ecological studies of benthic invertebrates in Chattahoochee National Forest headwater mountain streams affected by sedimentation, a study in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service Southern Coldwater Fisheries Research Unit and Chattooga River Large-Scale Watershed Restoration Project. Currently, research involves developing a multi-state database of nutrient and water quality parameters for the Red River basin, conducting field surveys for the occurrence of Heterosternuta sulphurius (Sulphur Springs Diving Beetle) in the Buffalo River watershed and in northwest Arkansas. Other activities include developing and conducting seasonal and annual invertebrate biomonitoring sampling procedures for the future Watershed Research and Education Center stream system located at Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station in Fayetteville.

Dr. Haggard's primary area of research is the effect of land use on stream sediment and water chemistry; his sediment and water quality laboratory at the University of Arkansas has the ability to analyze water and sediment samples as required for nitrogen, phosphorus, carbon, chloride and many other soluble trace elements. The equipment available in this laboratory includes a Skalar San Plus Wet Chemistry Autoanalyzer for nitrogen, phosphorus, carbon and chloride, a Spectro Inductively Couple Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES), and a Varian Bio-50 UV-Visible Spectrophotometer. This laboratory has field equipment available to measure physico-chemical parameters on site at stream monitoring stations, including pH, dissolved oxygen, conductivity and temperature.